Retrievable bridge plug



Jan. 5, 1965 F. c. L Ewls RETRIEVABLE BRIDGE PLUG 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 13, 1961 INVENT OR FRANC/S C EW/S ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1965 F. c. IEwls 3,164,210

RETRIEVABLE BRIDGE PLUG Filed June 13, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W lf/ lINVENTOR FRANC/S C. LEWIS ATTORNEY 3,164,216 RETR'VAISLE ERDGE PLUGFrancis Ciiiord iewis, B0. Box 4161, Wichita Falls, Tex. nasa rime 1s,1951, ser. Ne. trarre Claims. (Cl. 16d-4t2@ This invention relates to awell tool or apparatus and more particularly relates to an improved wellpacker adapted to be retrievably introduced into and set in a well so asto plug the interior of any passage, conduit or pipe at any selectedpoint.

Bridging, or other similar plugs are used in wells for various purposes.Under some circumstances, such as where wells are being cemented, acidtreated, sandefraced, or dually completed, it is often necessary to plugthe well at a point above the bottom so that pressure may be applied ortesting may be conducted in the well bore above the plug. Under somecircumstances, it may be necessary or desirable to place a plug orpacker in the well either above or below the level at which cement oracid pressure or sand-tracing is to be applied to the well bore; or itis desirable to confine pressure applied to the well bore from above orbelow; or in some circumstances it is desirable or necessary tosegregate a section or elevation of the well between two bridge plugs inorder to apply cement or acid under pressure to the section sosegregated. In some instances, it is desirable to leave this plug inposition, while in other situations it is desirable to remove the plugby retrieving or by drilling out.

The present apparatus contemplates a device or assembly of devices bywhich the foregoing operations may be performed.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improvedretrievable type wire line bridge plug capable of being introduced intothe well conduit and of being anchored therein against movement ineither or both longitudinal directions and of being released andretrieved or moved to another location.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved retrievabletype bridge plug capable of allowing fluid by-pass through the plugwhile it is being moved longitudinally through the well conduit, andsaid tluid by-passes being capable or" being closed when the plug is setin the conduit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a retrievable bridge plugwherein the parts of the anchoring mechanism are held apart duringrunning-in and retrieval to prevent premature anchoring.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a retrievable typebridge plug which can be set and released by hydraulic pressure andwhich may be removed or left in the hole as circumstances require.

Other and further objects of the invention will become readily apparentwhen the following description is considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein an example of the preferred embodiment ofthe invention is shown. This preferred form will now be described indetail to illustrate the general principles of the invention but it isunderstood that such detailed description is not to be construed aslimiting the true scope of the invention as deined by the claims.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal view in sectional elevationillustrating the tool after it has been lowered into the well bore butbefore actuation thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal view in sectional elevation showing the -toolin the well bore with both swab cups and both sets of slips expanded andset by means of hydraulic pressure.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal view in sectional elevation showing thespring loaded sleeve valve.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal view in sectional eleva- United States PatentO M 3,lb4,2l0 Patented Jan. 5, 1965 tion of the central portion of thetool showing an alternate structure of said central portion.

In its general aspects, the invention contemplates a bridge plugparticularly designed to function in an oil well casing or similarconduit. By reason of its novel construction and parts, this bridge plugis greatly simplied in design and operation while, at the same time,providing to the art a more versatile tool. It is provided withanchoring means at its upper portion for anchoring the plug againstdownward movement and anchoring means at its lower portion forpreventing upward movement of the plug in the conduit. In this improveddevice, the slips and cone at each end of the tool operate separately,each on a separate mandrel, and either the upper or lower slips may beset alone, or both upper and lower sets of slips may be set as requiredby conditions. While being pushed into the well conduit, however, theslips and the cones are forced apart, thereby obviating thepossibilities of premature contact of the slips with the walls of theconduit and premature setting or jamming of the plug in the conduit. Avalve arrangement is provided at the lower end of the tool which is eldopen during running-in to permit the upward passing of well uid whichmay be encountered. This valve device is permitted to close when theplug is positioned thus preventing upward passage of uid during thesetting of the anchoring means. Another valve device is provided on theupper end of the tool which is held open during retrieval to permitlluid from above to flow downward through the plug. The valve device ispermitted to close when the plug is positioned thus preventing downwardpassage of Huid during the setting of the anchoring means.

The tool, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 comprises a control rod lilprovided with a lug 11 at its upper end for iishing and retrieval of theplug. Control rod 10 extends the length of the plug to contact checkvalve ball 38, and at this lower end, control rod 10 contains attachedwings 35 which provide centering over the check valve ball 38.

The upper section of the plug comprises a spring loaded sleeve valve 12provided with a passage in the upper extremity of sleeve valve housing13 through which passes control rod 10 sealed with O ring seals 1.4.Along the lower portion of sleeve valve body 45, openings 16 areprovided through which fluid may pass from outside and above the plugthrough the inside thereof upon operation of the sleeve valve housingagainst the spring l5. Spring 15 is provided for returning the valve toclosed position.

The lower end of sleeve valve body 45 is attached to the upper end ofupper cone 21 having a central bore therethrough and containing theupper cone drag springs 19. At the juncture of upper cone 21 and sleeveValve body 45 is fastened upper swab cup 18. Attached to the lower endof upper cone 21 is upper tubular mandrel 2S, flared at its lower end toform upper mandrel stop 26. Upper sleeve 24 encloses the lower portionof upper mandrel 25 and is prevented from downward motion by mandrelstop 26. Upper slips 22 are connected to upper sleeve 24 by upper slipreins 23 which are laterally exible flat resilient springs.

The lower section of the plug comprises a tubular mandrel 29 with atubular mandrel stop 28 at the upper end thereof. The lower end ofmandrel 29 is threaded securely into the inside of the small end of thelower expander cone 33 which has a central bore therethrough. A tubularlatching thimble 34 is threaded in to the inside of the lower expandedportion of expander cone 33. Check valve housing 39 is threaded into theinside of the lower portion of latching thimble 34. The combination oflower mandrel 29 with stop 2S', lower expander cone 33, latching thimble34 and check valve housing 39 constitute the body of the lower portionof the bridging plug and form a smooth, continuous central channel forpassage of the control rod lll from mandrel stop 28 until it contactscheck valve ball 3S. Check valve ball 38 rests on spring loaded plate 42contained within check valve housing 39. Check valve housing 39 containsa multiplicity of holes 43 to permit the passage of lluid through thevalve upon actuation. Sleeve 30 is located around mandrel 29 belowmandrel stop 28. Main drag springs 27 are attached at one end to sleeve30 and at the other end to sleeve 24. This provides the only fixedconnection between the upper and lower portions of the plug. Main dragsprings 27 are fiat resilient springs which expand and compresslaterally. Lower slips 32 are provided between lower expander cone 33and lower sleeve 30. Said lower slips 32 are provided with attachment tolower sleeve 30 by means of slip reins 3l which are laterally ilexiblepermitting the slips to move outwardly to engage the conduit walls uponupward movement of expander cone 33. Lower swab cup 37 is attached tothe latching thimble 34 just below the lower end of expander cone 33 andis held in place by locking ring 36.

FIGURE 3 shows the details and operation of the spring loaded sleevevalve l2 which forms the upper end of the bridging plug shown in FIGURESl and 2. Valve body 45 is provided with external threads on the lowerend thereof for secure attachment to the upper end of upper expandercone 2l. Above the threaded lower end, valve body 45 is expanded to formshoulder 47 and at its upper end is provided with retainer flange 46threadably attached thereto and which forms the upper end of valve body5. Between shoulder 47 and retainer flange 46, valve body 4S is providedwith openings 16 for the passage of fluid from outside to inside thevalve body. The slidable housing portion of spring loaded sleeve valvel2 is composed of upper portion l3nt and lower portion 13b which connectto form a unitary sleeve 13. Control rod It) passes through the upperend of sleeve Ha, is sealed by O rings 14 and extends the length of thevalve. Control rod stop 2i) in its normal position is located in upperportion 13a of the sleeve valve. In a closed position as shown,therefore, slidable sleeve 13 slides over the upper part of valve body45, a water-tight seal being formed by O rings 17, in the lower portion13b of the sleeve, seating against shoulder 47. Spring l5 is locatedbetween sleeve portion 13b and the retainer flange 46 and is shown inits expanded state maintaining the valve closed.

FIGURE 4 shows an alternate sleeve and mandrel assembly. In thisalternate structure, sleeves 24 and 39 extend beyond mandrel stops 26and 23 and are releasably joined in the space between the mandrel stops.Mandrel stop 26 seats on shoulder 43 and mandrel stop 23 seats onshoulder 49. Drain holes 44 are provided in those portions of sleeves 24and 39 between the mandrel stops and the point of joining of the twosleeves. Main drag springs 27 `are attached at their lower ends to lowersleeve 30 and are unattached at their upper ends where they contactupper sleeve 24 in order to allow for longitudinal expansion of thesprings during running in. Mandrels and 29 are attached to expandercones 21 and 33 (not shown in this figure) in the same manner as in FIG-URE l.

In the operation and use of the bridge plug of this invention in aconduit string such as a well casing, the tool is inserted into the wellcasing and force is exerted on control rod l0 to push the tool down thecasing. Such downward force causes check valve ball 38 and plate 42 tocompress spring 41 thereby opening the lower valve to fluid flow andpermitting the tool to be lowered into a lluid lled section of conduitif necessary. As check valve 4t), latching thimble 34 and expander cone33 are all connected and move as a unit, the downward force exerted oncontrolV rodV lt) during the lowering operation exerts a constant forceon expander cone 33 preventing Ila() contact with, actuation, orpremature setting of slips 32.

As the lowering operation begins, main drag springs 27 are compressedlaterally by conduit walls A thereby resisting downward movement of thetool and exerting a constant force on sleeve 3i) holding it l'lrmlyagainst mandrel stop 23 and at the same time preventing any possiblecontact or engagement between the lower slips 32 and the lower expandercone 33. The upper sleeve 24 is attached to the upper end of main dragsprings 27' which initially causes a small upward longitudinal movementof the sleeve 24 due to lateral compression of drag springs 27. Afterthis initial upward movement, however, drag springs 27 prevent anyfurther upward longitudinal motion of the upper sleeve 24. The upperslips 22, connected to the upper sleeve 24 by upper slip reins 23 arelikewise prevented from any upward longitudinal motion during thelowering operation. The upper cone, however, is forced upwardlongitudinally during the lowering operation by upper cone drag springs19, thereby forcing the upper slips and upper cone apart and preventingany premature contact of the slips with the conduit walls, Under somecircumstances, upper cone drag springs I9 may be eliminated if desired.For example, when the sleeves 24 and 30 are connected as shown in FIGURE4 and are, therefore, not subject to any substantial longitudinalmovement, the drag of swab cup 1S is suflicient to prevent prematureexpansion or setting of the upper slips 22.

Upon reaching the desired location in the conduit, the downward force oncontrol rod 10 is released thereby allowing check valve spring 41 toreturn plate 42 and check valve ball 3S to their original positionwherein check valve ball 38 is seated against the lower end of mandrel29 and held in position by plate 42 and check valve spring 41 preventingany upward ow of iluid through the plug. Upon the application ofpressure from below to the lower end of the plug, swab cup 37 isexpanded and seals against the conduit walls A preventing the passage ofany iluid past the plug except any flow which might be permitted toenter through check valve 4t? by actuation with control rod 1t). Thepressure exerted on lower swab cup 37 forces lower expander cone 33 andlower mandrel 29 to move longitudinally upward until lower cone 33contacts lower slips 32 and forces them to expand laterally intoanchoring engagement with conduit walls A. As lower cone 33 and lowermandrel 23 move longitudinally upward, lower slips 32 and lower sleeve30 are prevented from any substantial longitudinal motion by slip reins31 and main drag springs 27. The plug is thus anchored in the conduitagainst any upward longitudinal motion.

If a pressure diiferential is applied above the bridge plug, thepressure will exert force in a downwardly direction on valve 12 and onupper swab cup 18. The pressure will expand upper swab cup 18 againstthe conduit walls A thereby preventing the passage of any iluid past theplug except any flow which might be permitted to enter through sleevevalve l2 upon actuation of control rod 10. The pressure exerted on upperswab cup 18 forces upper expander cone 2l and upper mandrel 25 to movelongitudinally downward until upper cone 21 contacts upper slips 22 andforces them to expand laterally into anchoring engagement with conduitwalls A. As upper cone 2l and upper mandrel 25 move longitudinallydownward, upper slips 22 and sleeve 24 are prevented from anysubstantial longitudinal motion by slip reins 23 and main drag springs27. The plug is thus anchored in the conduit against any downwardlongitudinal motion.

The plug may thus be anchored against upward movement by the applicationof pressure from below the plug, against downward motion by applicationof pressure from above the plug 'or against both upward and downwardmovement by application of pressure from both above and below. Greatflexibility of operation is achieved by the ability to anchor the plugagainst upward motion, downward motion or both according tocircumstances.

In the event it is desired to release the bridge plug and remove it fromthe well casing, or move it to a diiferent location in the well casing,a suitable mechanisnnsuch as a rishing tool, is provided which becomescoupled with the lug l1 on control rod lil. After coupling, to releasethe lower slips 32, push rod 1% is moved sharply downward into contactwith check valve ball 33 forcing plate 42 into contact with check valvehousing 39, preferably providing at least one sharp blow thereto. Checkvalve housing 39, latching thimble 34, swab cup 37, lower expander cone33 and lower mandrel 29 are thereby moved longitudinally downward out ofengagement with lower slips 32, allowing lower slip reins 3l to move thesaid slips laterally inward out of anchoring engagement with the conduitwalls. Lower slips 32 are retained against longitudinally downwardmovement by slip reins 31 and sleeve 3G is retained by main drag springs27.

To release the upper slips from anchoring engagement with the conduitwalls, control rod l@ is moved sharply upward until control rod stop Ztlcontacts the upper end of spring loaded sleeve valve housing 13a forcingspring loaded sleeve valve l2, the upper swab cup lil, upper expandercone 21, and upper mandrel upward thereby releasing the lateral force onupper slips 22. Upon release of the force exerted by upper cone 2l,upper slip reins 23 cause upper slips 22 to move laterally inward andout of anchoring engagement with the conduit. As control rod stop 2li ismoved sharply upward into contact with the upper end of sleeve valvehousing 13a to release slips 22, spring l5 is compressed and sleevevalve housing i3 is simultaneously moved longitudinally upward inrelation to valve body 45 to the point that O-rings 17 are above theopenings 16. Any fluid head above the bridge plug may then drain throughopenings lr6 into the central channel of the tool during the retrievingoperation. Upon release of the force exerted by control rod stop 20 uponsleeve valve housing 23a, spring l5 returns sleeve valve housing 13downward to its normal closed position.

After releasing the engaged slips and opening the sleeve valve to fluidpassage, the bridge plug may be easily moved to another location in thecasing or removed therefrom.

I claim:

l. An improved well plugging device comprising an upper and a lowertubular mandrel, said upper tubular mandrel having a stop on the lowerend thereof and said lower tubular mandrel having a` stop on the upperend thereof, an upper cone having a, central bore therethrough attachedto said upper mandrel, upper drag springs attached to said upper cone,upwardly facing cupshape packing lixed to said upper cone and coactingtherewith, an upper spring loaded sleeve valve attached to said uppercone, an upper sleeve around said upper mandrel and above said uppermandrel stop, upper conduit engageable slip means, upper slip reinsconnecting said upper sleeve and upper conduit engageable slip means,said upper cone and upper conduit engageable slip means coacting toanchor the said well plugging device against downward movement; a lowercone having a central bore therethrough attached to said lower tubularmandrel, a tubular latching thimble attached to the lower end of saidlower cone, a lower spring loaded check valve attached to said tubularlatching thimble, a downwardly facing cup-shaped packing fixed to thelower end of said lower cone and coacting therewith, a lower sleevearound the said lower tubular mandrel above the said lower cone andbelow the said lower mandrel stop, lower conduit engageable slip means,lower slip reins connecting said lower sleeve and lower conduitengageable slip means, said lower cone and lower conduit engageable slipmeans coacting to anchor the said well plugging device against upwardmovement; main drag springs expandable and compressible laterally andattached at their lower ends to the lower sleeve and at their upper endsto the upper sleeve; a control rod passing through theI well pluggingdevice, and actuating the lower valve with downward motion and actuatingthe upper valve with upward motion.

2. An improved well plugging device comprising an upper and a lowertubular mandrel, said upper tubular mandrel having a stop on the lowerend thereof and said lower tubular mandrel having a stop on the upperend thereof, an upper cone having a central bore therethrough attachedto said upper tubular mandrel, upper drag springs attached to said uppercone and coacting therewith, upwardly facing cup-shaped packing xed tosaid upper cone and coacting therewith, a self-closing valve meanshaving a central passage therethrough, a perforated upper sleeve -aroundsaid upper tubular mandrel and extending below said upper mandrel stopandhaving an internal shoulder which engages the upper mandrel stop upondownward movement, upper conduit engageable slip means, upper slip reinsconnecting said upper sleeve and said upper conduit engageable slipmeans, said upper cone and upper conduit engageable slip means coactingto anchor the said well plugging device against downward movement; alower cone having a central bore therethrough attached to said lowertubular mandrel, a

.tubular latching thimble attached to the lower end of said lower cone,a self-closing lower valve means attached to said latching thimble, adownwardly facing cup-shaped packing xed to the lower end of said lowercone and ccacting therewith, a perforated lower sleeve around the saidlower mandrel and extending above the said lower mandrel stop andconnected with the upper sleeve, said lower sleeve having an internalshoulder which engages the lower mandrel stop upon downward movement,lower conduit engageable slip means, lower slip reins connecting saidlower sleeve and lower conduit engageaole slip means, saidflower coneand lower conduit engageable slip means coacting to anchor the said wellplugging device against upward movement; main drag springs expandableand compressible laterally and attached at one end to one of saidsleeves; a control rod passing through the well plugging device andactuating the lower valve with downward motion and actuating the uppervalve with upward motion.v

l 3. .An improved well plugging device comprising an upper and a lowertubular mandrel, said upper tubular mandrel having =a stop on the lowerend thereof and said lower tubular mandrel having a stop on the upperend thereof, an upper cone having a central bore therethrough attachedto said upper tubular mandrel, lan upwardly facing cup-shaped packingfixed to said upper cone and coacting therewith, a self-closing uppervalve means attached to said upper cone and having a central passagetherethrough to form, in combination with the upper cone and uppermandrel, a central channel through the upper pontion of the wellplugging device, an upper sleeve around the said upper mandrel and belowthe said upper cone and prevented from downward longitudinal motion bythe said upper mandrel stop, upper conduit engageable slip means, upperslip reins connecting said upper sleeve and said upper conduitengageable slip means, said upper cone and upper conduit engageable slipmeans coacting to ichor the said well plugging device against downwardmovement; a lower cone having a central bore therethrough attached tosaid lower tubular mandrel and forming a central channel through thelower portion of said device said central channels forming the centralchannel of the device, a lower self-closing valve means attached to saidlower cone, a downwardly facing cup-shaped packing fixed to the lowerend of said lower cone, a lower sleeve around the said lower tubularmandrel and above the said lower cone and prevented from upward motionby said lower mandrel stop, lower conduit engageable slip means, lowerslip reins connecting said ylower sleeve and lower conduit engageableslip means, said lower cone and lower conduit engageable slip meanscoacting to anchor the saidk well plugging device against upward Ymovement; main drag springs expandable and compressble laterally andattached at Vtheir lower ends tothe lower sleeve and attached at theirupper ends to the upper sleeve, a control rod passing through thecentral channel of said device engageahle upon upward movement with theupper valve to open said upper valve and permit Huid passagetherethrough and engageable upon downward movement with the lower valveto open said lower valve to permit fluid passage therethrough.

4. An improved well plugging device comprising an upper and a lowertubular mandrel, said upper tubular mandrel having `a stop on the lowerend thereof and said lowertubular mandrel having a stop on the upper endthereof, an upper cone having a central bore therethrough attached tosaid upper tubular mandrel, -an upwardly facing cup-shaped packing fixedto said upper cone and coacting therewith, a self-closing upper valvemeans attached to said upper cone and having a central passagetherethrough to form, in combination with the upper cone and uppermandrel, a central channel through the upper portion of the wellplugging device, an upper sleeve around said upper mandrel and abovesaid upper mandrelstop, upper conduit engageable slip means, upper slipreins connecting said upper sleeve and said upper conduit engageableslip means, said upper cone and upper conduit engageable slip meanscoacting to anchor the said well plugging device against downwardmovement; a lower cone having a central bore therethrough attached tosaid lower tubular mandrel and forming a central channel through thelower portion of said well plugging device, said central channelsforming the central channel of the device, a lower self-closing valvemeans attached to said lower cone, a downwardly facing cup-shapedpacking fixed to the lower end of said lower cone, a lower sleeve aroundthe said lower tubular mandrel and above the said lower cone and belowthe said lower mandrel stop, lower conduit engageable slip means, lowerslip reins connecting said lower sleeve and lower conduit engageableslip means, said lower cone and lower conduit engageahle slip meanscoacting to anchor the said well plugging device against upwardmovement; main drag springs expandable and compressihle laterally andattached at their lower ends to the lower sleeve and attached at theirupper ends to the upper sleeve; a control rod passing through thecentral channel of said device, engageable upon upward movement with theupper valve to open said upper valve and permit uid passage therethroughand engageable upon downward movement with the lower valve to open saidlower valve to permit iiuid passage therethrough.

5. An improved well plugging device comprising an upper and a lowertubular mandrel, said upper .tubular mandrel having a stop on the lowerend thereof and said lower tubular mandrel having a stop on the upperend thereof, an upper cone having a central bore therethrough attachedto said upper tubular mandrel, an upwardly facing cup-shaped packingfixed to said upper cone, a self-closing upper valve means attached tosaid upper cone and having a central passage .therethrough to for-m, incombination with the upper cone and upper mandrel, a central channelthrough the upper portion of the well plugging device, a perforatedupper sleeve around said upper tubular mandrel and extending below saidupper mandrel stop, upper conduit engageable slip means, upper slipreins connecting said upper sleeve and said upper conduit engageahleslip means, said upper cone and upper conduit engageable slip meanscoacting to anchor the said well plugging device against downwardmovement; a lower cone having a central bore therethrough attached tosaid lower tubular mandrel, 'a self-closing lower valve means attachedto said lower cone, a downwardly facing cup-shaped packing fixed to thelower end of said lower cone, a perforated lower sleeve around the saidlower mandrel and extending above the said lower mandrel stop andconnected with the upper sleeve, lower conduit engageable slip means,lower slip reins connecting said lower sleeve and lower conduitengageahle slip means, said lower cone and lower conduit engageable slipmeans coacting to anchor the said well plugging device against upwardmovement; main drag springs expandable and compressible laterally andattached at one end to one of said sleeves; a control means in saiddevice engageable upon upward movement with the upper valve to open saidupper valve and permit fluid flow therethrough and engageable upondownward movement with the lower valve to open said lower valve andpermit i'luid flow therethrough.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNTED STATES PATENTS2,751,012 Baker et al. lune 19, 1956

1. AN IMPROVED WELL PLUGGING DEVICE COMPRISING AN UPPER AND A LOWERTUBULAR MANDREL, SAID UPPER TUBULAR MANDREL HAVING A STOP ON THE LOWEREND THEREOF AND SAID LOWER TUBULAR MANDREL HAVING A STOP ON THE UPPEREND THEREOF, AN UPPER CONE HAVING A CENTRAL BORE THERETHROUGH ATTACHEDTO SAID UPPER MANDREL, UPPER DRAG SPRINGS ATTACHED TO SAID UPPER CONE,UPWARDLY FACING CUPSHAPE PACKING FIXED TO SAID UPPER CONE AND COACTINGTHEREWITH, AN UPPER SPRING LOADED SLEEVE VALVE ATTACHED TO SAID UPPERCONE, AN UPPER SLEEVE AROUND SAID UPPER MANDREL AND ABOVE SAID UPPERMANDREL STOP, UPPER CONDUIT ENGAGEABLE SLIP MEANS, UPPER SLIP REINSCONNECTING SAID UPPER SLEEVE AND UPPER CONDUIT ENGAGEABLE SLIP MEANS,SAID UPPER CONE AND UPPER CONDUIT ENGAGEABLE SLIP MEANS COACTING TOANCHOR THE SAID WELL PLUGGING DEVICE AGAINST DOWNWARD MOVEMENT; A LOWERCONE HAVING A CENTRAL BORE THERETHROUGH ATTACHED TO SAID LOWER TUBULARMANDREL, A TUBULAR RATCHING THIMBLE ATTACHED TO THE LOWER END OF SAIDLOWER CONE, A LOWER SPRING LOADED CHECK VALVE ATTACHED TO SAID TUBULARLATCHING THIMBLE, A DOWNWARDLY FACING CUP-SHAPED PACKING FIXED TO THELOWER END OF SAID LOWER CONE AND COACTING THEREWITH, A LOWER SLEEVEAROUND THE SAID LOWER TUBULAR MANDREL ABOVE THE SAID LOWER CONE ANDBELOW THE SAID LOWER MANDREL STOP, LOWER CONDUIT ENGAGEABLE SLIP MEANS,LOWER SLIP REINS CONNECTING SAID LOWER SLEEVE AND LOWER CONDUITENGAGEABLE SLIP MEANS, SAID LOWER CONE AND LOWER CONDUIT ENGAGEABLE SLIPMEANS, COACTING TO ANCOR THE SAID WELL PLUGGING DEVICE AGAINST UPWARDMOVEMENT; MAIN DRAG SPRINGS EXPANDABLE AND COMPRESSIBLE LATERALLY ANDATTACHED AT THEIR LOWER ENDS TO THE LOWER SLEEVE AND AT THEIR UPPER ENDSTO THE UPPER SLEEVE; A CONTROL ROD PASSING THROUGH THE WELL PLUGGINGDEVICE AND ACTUATING THE LOWER VALVE WITH DOWNWARD MOTION AND ACTUATINGTHE UPPER VALVE WITH UPWARD MOTION.